Being unemployed again(anyone need an Electrician) i can mid day TV and on Espn classics it Benn Vs Eubank with Bunce presenting they had the contracts signing on tv and everything but who was the favourite for the fight and just how big was as it as i was only 2 years old when they fought, the commentators also alluded to how much they made as if it was a lot anyone any idea
Eubank had already caught the imagination with TV appearances, saying boxing was a "mugs game" etc. Benn was said to be making a million, but I think he took home 400K (still equiv of 1+mill today), Eubank about 150K (equiv of about 0.5mill today). It was a huge fight. Every celeb you can think of was at the NEC ffs.
If it's Benn vs Eubank 1 your talking about then Benn was a firm favourite, he was the Champ (WBO) and had bounced back well after his defeat to Watson with some decent wins, notably (Barkley/ Dewitt). The fight was big domestically, but had no international significance (at this time Eubank was unknown outside of the UK) As for the purses........I've no idea, but cant see Eubanks being huge, seeing it was his first title challenge and he hadn't proved to much before this fight.
It was viewed by 16.3 million people. There will never be another domestic fight that rivals, or even comes close to being as big. Note: I cannot stand threads like this, who people who asked these type of questions. Boxing fans should already know... [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zescZW7a99E[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5H7UzfVNM-8&feature=relmfu[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xikrRGmsB0&feature=relmfu[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDsK8_0uaFw&feature=relmfu[/ame]
Untrue. Eubank was already big in Europe and Swedish TV had Ingemar Johansson as a ringside commentator. It's true however that US TV didn't approve of Eubank as an opponent - they hadn't seen him. So it wasn't covered in America. When you get 12,000,000 viewers in the UK alone though, that's special.
Eubank was known by some in the States, not least because he began his pro career there. But as mentioned it was 'essentially' a domestic bout. Eubank was a live underdog, but Benn was a warm favourite. The Dos Santos KO and the pose Eubank did as the poor Brazilian was being counted out, really helped Eubank and made the fight seem much bigger than it should of been. Chris was brilliant as the Pantomime villain, and at the time we Brits brought into it, big time.
Am I right in thinking that Benn admitted sabotaging Eubank's entrance music? I was at the NEC that night and recall Eubank's 'Simply The Best' cutting out as he made his way to the ring. Barry Hearn ushered him back to the dressing room. It seemed like an argument/scuffle took place in a media box/stand where the music was being played and then Eubank came out to no music and the sound of the crowd, who I'd say were at least 80% pro Benn, singing "Nigel's gonna get you...Nigel's gonna get you." I remember my legs shaking involuntarily and thinking Eubank must have ice running through his veins. What an atmosphere. I was with three mates and was the only one who picked and wanted Eubank to win.
Drew similar viewing figures to an England World Cup / Euro semi final and had a build up show presented by Jonathan Ross on prime time Saturday night on ITV before the fight.
